Bertie at Christmas? UD Thanks for the travel info it worked

Can you guys help me out here, I'm not sure what normal travel stress is and what excessive travel stress is. When he's in his carrier in the car, I can see that his hert rate is faster, he lies quite still, doesn't panic, but he's clearly not enjoying it. As soon as he's out of the car he's OK. He's done an hour journey before but he normally has me stroking his head.
Is this undue stress? I am prepared to stay at home if this journey is too much for him, but i don't have anything to compare to.
I've heard that 'Rescue remedy' can help, anyone know?

When we moved from Eastleigh to Sidmouth, we were really worried as the rabbits showed the signs of stress you have described, even on the short journey to the vets. They always took a long time to calm down when they got home too. At that time we had 3 bunnies, so we put 2 of them in a smallish carrier lined with old towels, so that they would not slip around. Benjamin was not in the best of health, so I was really concerned about him. Anyway I sat him on my knee for the whole journey and he was as good as gold. They all recovered from the 3 hour journey and settled into their new home very quickly. I don't know if this is any help to you Jay.

I've found that Rescue Remedy does work, put it in his water a couple of days before he sets off, his body will only take as much as it needs and will eliminate the rest in his urine.

Our Smokey was the same, if he could have been sick when he was in the car he would have been, but once he'd arrived at his destination, he was as bright as a button after a wee rest. Funnily enough, he was a rex too

Piper absolutely hates car travel and she has a hard time of it. Just the ten minute drive to the vets stresses her out. She gets very quiet and shakey when she's in her carrier and by the time we get home she is just a wreck It usually takes her a couple hours to get back to normal and even then she's mad at me for a solid day afterwards.

It sounds like Bertie isn't quite as bad as Piper He doesn't seem affected afterwards so that has to be a good sign.

Jay wrote:Can you guys help me out here, I'm not sure what normal travel stress is and what excessive travel stress is. When he's in his carrier in the car, I can see that his hert rate is faster, he lies quite still, doesn't panic, but he's clearly not enjoying it. As soon as he's out of the car he's OK. He's done an hour journey before but he normally has me stroking his head.
Is this undue stress? I am prepared to stay at home if this journey is too much for him, but i don't have anything to compare to.
I've heard that 'Rescue remedy' can help, anyone know?

Most of my rabbits are the same (except for Mack who actually flops & stretches out in transit) and I have always considered them to be good travellers. I have had rabbits come here for bonding who have obviously been stressed out by the journey and they are generally withdrawn, skittish and breathing rapidly on arrival....it often takes them hours to settle down again.

If Bertie is fine once he is out of transit then I wouldn't consider him a bad traveller, but as Lynda said Rescue Remedy won't do him any harm even if he dosn't actually need it.

Thanks guys, that's helpful, and I'll try the Rescuse remedy He starts his adventure on Tuesday, it'll be very weird here without him for a couple of days, but you know, the littel guy deserves a holiday, he's had a very difficult year, what being made destitute for a few months and having to share his space with an oik

Bless him!

I hope he has a wonderful holiday and that he recovers from the travelling swiftly!

Tell Bert's I'm quite jealous of him - he's not the only one who could use a holiday! Tibbs and Truffles have stopped speaking to me now they know other bunnies get holidays!

I've used rescue remedy on the dogs before now and it does seem to work.

Big Bertie bunny cuddles xx

those norty buns, you could put a spin on it that at least they aren't being deserted by you at Christmas....

They'd see that as a downside!!!

They're already cheesed off that they only see me at weekends now because I leave for work in the dark and get back in the dark!

KathyT wrote:They'd see that as a downside!!!

They're already cheesed off that they only see me at weekends now because I leave for work in the dark and get back in the dark!

I really must get back into saying that again, love that phrase!

Glad that you have Bertie sorted.

I just wanted to say Thank-you for all your tips for lessening the stresson Bertie's trip yesterday. I used every suggestion, and the difference was really quite startling

I gave him a couple of drops of rescue remedy in his water for the last 3 days. We put newspaper then a towel on top in his carrier. and put him on the back at one side, belted the carrier in & made it level with another towel underneath.
I sat on the other side, and put a towel on the middle seat. Because I was sat facing the carrier and him, we removed the cage front and left it open the whole journey. He had a little tiny bowl with a little bit of water in the bottom as well, which I kept filling up, he drank quite a bit.

Overall he was completely chilled out. He just last there facing me and I talked to him and stroked his head a lot, and he only came out onto the other towel once for a stretch, then we went back in.
His heart was racing every now and then, but nothing like usual, and he really did seem quite relaxed
Thanks guys

Glad to hear Berts was fine on the trip....I get horredously travel sick myself so really sympathise with animals who don't travel well as they don't even have a clue whats happening to them.